MLB Player News

Floro gave up two hits and struck out one over 1.1 scoreless innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The 32-year-old had a couple shaky outings early in March but has settled down nicely since, and Floro now sports an 8:2 K:BB through 8.1 spring frames. The Marlins will deploy a closer committee to begin the season with four high-leverage arms in the mix, but Floro still seems like the team's top option from the right side ahead of Matt Barnes.

Barnes walked one and struck out one in a scoreless sixth inning during Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

The right-hander was the first reliever in the game for the Marlins after Trevor Rogers hit the showers, which in the spring is a spot generally reserved for high-leverage options. Barnes' 6:4 K:BB through 4.2 innings in camp isn't exactly sharp, however, and it's an ominous sign for a pitcher who's posted a walk rate above 11.0 percent in four of the last five seasons. Miami isn't expected to go into 2023 with a set closer, instead mixing and matching among four different late-inning arms, but Dylan Floro still seems to be ahead of Barnes in the pecking order from the right side.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Nelson (elbow) will open the season on the injured list, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Nelson hasn't suffered any sort of setback, but the Dodgers want to give him more time to work fully into form after he missed the entire 2022 season following Tommy John surgery. It seems like he could be an option for the Los Angeles bullpen before the end of April.

Cubs manager David Ross said Thursday that he couldn't rule out Hughes (knee) requiring an IL stint, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Hughes hasn't appeared in a Cactus League game since March 16, and he acknowledged to reporters Thursday in Cubs camp that he's been battling lingering left knee inflammation for much of the spring. It's shown up in his production on the mound, as the 27-year-old left-hander has yielded three earned runs on five hits and three walks through four innings this spring. The hope is he can return to live action this weekend, but there's minimal margin for error with Opening Day just one week away.

Anderson could wind up being on the Opening Day roster with Raisel Iglesias set to begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with shoulder inflammation Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

He already got optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, but Iglesias' injury changes the bullpen picture for Atlanta and opens up a spot. Anderson didn't pitch in the majors at all last year after undergoing elbow surgery in October 2021, but he has a career 39.6 percent strikeout rate in the majors over 87.1 innings and has posted an 11:1 K:BB over eight frames this spring. The 32-year-old could work his way into a high-leverage role once he shows he's all the way back, although A.J. Minter and Joe Jimenez are expected to handle the bulk of the closing duties in Iglesias' absence.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that Minter "obviously would be the obvious guy" to fill in at closer while Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is sidelined, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Snitker did backtrack a bit after that, adding that "it may be a matchup scenario-type thing." Still, it seems telling that Minter is the first guy that came to mind when the manager was asked the question, likely putting him at the top of the pecking order. Joe Jimenez is probably next in line. Atlanta is hopeful that Iglesias will need only a minimum stay on the injured list.

Manager Brian Snitker indicated Thursday he hopes Iglesias (shoulder) will only require the minimum 15 days on the injured list, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Iglesias was diagnosed with low-grade right shoulder inflammation after feeling off while playing catch Wednesday. He will be shut down for the next week before hopefully ramping things back up. "To get him right, we shut him down, will build him back and hopefully can get him sooner than later," Snitker said. A.J. Minter is the favorite to close games for Atlanta while Iglesias is out.

Burdi was reassigned Thursday to the minor-league side of Cubs camp, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Burdi had issued five walks but allowed only one hit and zero runs through 4.2 innings this spring in the Cactus League. The 30-year-old right-hander will function as organizational relief depth for Chicago in 2023.

Hughes said Thursday he's been dealing with some discomfort in his left knee, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The injury explains why it has been a full week since Hughes last pitched in a Cactus League game. It doesn't sound like a significant issue, but any type of discomfort is concerning this close to Opening Day. The 27-year-old left-hander is expected to work in a high-leverage role out of the Cubs' bullpen this season, though Michael Fulmer and Brad Boxberger are thought to be the frontrunners for saves.

Misiewicz was optioned to Triple-A Memphis by the Cardinals on Thursday.

Misiewicz was acquired from the Royals in early February in exchange for cash considerations and will function as left-handed relief depth in the minors to begin the 2023 campaign. He holds a career 4.43 ERA and 105:31 K:BB in 103.2 total innings at the MLB level.